Ball-winding machine



Feb. 2, 1954 H. N. HUSE BALL WINDING MACHINE '3. Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1953 INVENTOR Hus:

ATTORNEY mo mp H. N. HUSE BALL-WINDING MACHINE Feb. 2, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1955 TQm on 0%. M

NM ON 8 0m 8 s Q n & Q ON I l VENTOR H M N HUSE 2 ATTQRNEY H. N. H YUSE BALL-WINDING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HlRQM N. HUSE WMZ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1954 Mme 1m em 15;;

355 16; v15s1 p;-yi i g plizci MACHINE HiteuiNg- Hu E si rh fie i. v Annl catiomMmyvle; 1953; Saris-1mm 355129J figqlimfihi- &5

memes? Ki'imm mm ysQ hine e sisi e wmm we RH3 neei?! ds? Hes-i Q hes sheesss arr esj t museums hellrsiipa rtie 911? 1?; a e: Qf] 3 1 31 Q f hig: g f fi i covered with a replaceable flexible, material wh h; ase esimesuiiese t h p f l il se zwosmsi,

esnemli siee Q-JRRI1QTWH%- t hellsbsin wmiedi betw en We: iznnse f he d s i e se QXYt EP Q Qs kI ZRWQF iat mt d ftflfifii 39W- ever, the heads in the t -gate t ereg ptitted, Wha e s; he 12mm new ine: he ewe- 19 l qta tgblei V V v he; elhsuxmmt ne, t lle nQVe' eieH'miim as s stetesh h irinqivi ua i izsee nv sidiii x h imeimtsi pir he iiersshavmex eix r mq ier mi es" m vements en means: at W A er hsse-mw meits io'r-nuxmseew ien Willh9 9HQ he eiee eii msta l xe isii eei mlliqi ee sire ein j he r s n nv s in eview censt mie i herein h hitee t 9 93 3 se n ei iebliemqi mez fieeenii'ic with the longitudinal axis of -the ir a@hi e, these nqq ses-wsllie -i he hrees: yiqfism iee met aboutz his e 19% he; he es: s. he ell,- In other: w rds s windin nexe ient. he threads is: revels ed; i Rm i he e l; We: e i thethmedz he etm.

s e sunm tin zheede.e sah yemeei neq axj qlkmfigifiml m Me n @m mvidesl; iew vsetw ermit esiheesie eim vme xmm z h v ne ir meme; male Qt memeseme e emlienseie qrheeyadiiallis s-se ng; diam er, e bell, s wiedinemessede M ensan p ov dedta wh re 1' either heed may e waved. lo e, Qf, he e chineen ubstanti l idistenset 9 R mi i es mamma mm se els. ex i nsextiqe- Q e spools.

One. t-th is ts fmy. v n ip fi rq i fpr varied spacing between successive thread Winds o a core. This isdone by v 'lying therelajcioh between the cycle speed (mine cembined rollers and 4 roller supports and thethree/ct wihding speed; As-a..consequence ofthis'construotion, it isipossible to wind the =coreinitially with open,

widelyspacedwindings thereby evehly to. cover the core with the. fewest practicable; number of windings; This, is. very desirable-1m that: it is essential thatv theirelativelyi softer center;- or\ care he ma ntained: as t nulse sphericeli as possible.

when, a substantial; thickness; of: high-.tensioned wie ie s, ee fi s epli sii. ha he ells s 4121 9 ea 1 .3; items; he e ieseme yhetepeli qi set p e ez'w Mid Qi' QQ be ty} edz iemz ess irme ellz Near he emee iee qt: se JEQ H Z? PfiFRPiQih. nd. h sq .e wiey fme-wnem ediee i;belie e-sees we test; wineiessmet' e w qeeei m ler sii selsu ieisii e s-eit b i ell, m se promote qe ieemme t s es: l heistef l aez i el v .isa en1 ime-e sempi sheie ymeiebeieinee existemm ke fiqei d eee ine he smly ii t e hre itgiiid e 319W eeeqi h e itists, W 1- RIPQRQQ; pen windin s, ush sei e si ehle atn iie sinniii t se eqie ps et qneedinser' th ieishi hil nh sb swee met-W ed! amesfills zm i s rl l e i iqin s Identical hen ee e lii es t eeeiee ry zettere a be ma eed. e mainta ning existent pe or, h c b eeiireuie ewh le ett ng, he peed i the cams and bhll-sgpppgtipg 139l11 enetii xr ifi e it s eveeiiei sil zreviqe qonstmti e w ers ii m sh es,ween m iew: ienem e us r eemie mmhisglaec smr Rl na ,ma e eieine eehsaqs teinem ssent awn? eeyemsetw ihereflex-units imlessly p etm he; wisest imed 1i;bell;. mi i er rsie mq sle ivel i iset m sl eeise a as n my mesh ng h vq e erxss e, ha lesupp iegs i esis. 9;-

t will. b? whe s? i m. ee. r e qui m e px is iz 1 ha he eee x i m m ed m 2hi9 $hi% n han; n he hi y prior patent referredto and simile y machines, a pd thgt eggqessive strains and vibratie are not imposed up on'the;sugpoyting heads; gearing-and esseigtedm eghanisms In; theaCco'n pa nyi-ng drawings- Fig; 1% is a pafit sectibnal side elevationali view of;v an empbdigr' ent ofymydhvention I Eig. 2-is apartseetionaksidezeleizational view of one-0;- thebarlbsnpgionting heads;

Big; In is am elexzatinnala View of; ones-end: oft the machinepand: V

Big. fiii aimelevational viewlofg'speedhchanging apparatus-isuitablesfer,use with. my machine.

Retlerring; to; the; drawin s ill-detail desistnates the w onnps dihaaglssqf he ma hinp the spindles menemr heme; d is-i etediis .11? mfountine shindi -e41 aremie ieha i nmen 51 1 3 each other and extend into supports 5, so that the heads are in axial alignment.

As distinguished from the machine of my prior patent above referred to, the heads 2 are non rotatable. The only movement imparted to these heads, except for the movement of the ballsupporting rollers and roller supports, is an endwise bodily movement axially of the machine, to compensate for the increasing diameter of a ball being wound and to permit one head and its associated mechanism to be moved away from the other sufficiently to provide for renewing the thread spools, all of which will be explained in detail hereinafter.

The heads 2 are identical in construction, except that the mechanisms are right and left hand, so that a description of one head applies to both.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the spindle 4 of each head is hollow, and extending through the spindle and into the head itself are two shafts, a solid shaft 8 and quill It, the latter extending between the head spindle 4 and the solid shaft 8. For clarity of description, the shaft 8 will be referred to hereinafter as a roller spindle drive shaft, while the quill Ill will be referred to as a cam shaft.

On the inner end of the roller spindle drive shaft 8 is a spindle drive gear l2.

Each head 2 is equipped with a plurality of 1 ball-supporting rollers [4 for supporting the ball l6 as it is being wound, each roller preferably being provided with a rubber cap l8, similar to the cushion caps 10 of my prior Patent 2,076,565.

These caps are readily replaceable and so constructed as to slip around on the surface of the rollers I4 to turn and twist with the ball, thereby preventing abrasion of the ball surface.

An intermittently oscillated roller support 20,

mounted in the forward or inner end of the head,

is provided for each roller [4.

A spindle 22, extending axially of the machine through each roller support 20, is provided for each roller l4. Each spindle at its end remote from the rollers is provided with a gear 24, in

constant mesh with the spindle drive gear I2 previously mentioned. On the other end of each of the spindles 22 is a bevel gear 26, meshing with bevel gear 28 on stub shaft 30, which directly mounts the rollers. These stub shafts 30 are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the machine, as will be seen from Fig. 2.

It will be apparent, therefore, that rotation of the spindle drive shaft 8 of each head will effect simultaneous rotation of all of the rollers 14 in the same direction. The drive is by way of shaft 8, gears 12 and 24, spindle 22, gears 26 and 28,

on a ball and socket arrangement 34. This spider is provided with pintles 36, extending into rings 38, wherein the roller supports are mounted.

Mounted in the inner end of the roller spindle drive shaft 8 and projecting therefrom is a stub shaft 40, carrying a compound cone gear 42.

Each roller support at the end which lies inside the head is reduced in diameter, this portion carrying a gear 44. These gears 44 mesh with one part of the compound cone gear 42. The

other part of gear 42 meshes with a gear segment 46, carried by cam lever 48, fulcrumed on pin 50.

4 The cam lever 48 carries a cam roller 52, which revolves on pin 53 and follows the cam track 54 of the cam 56, which is keyed to the cam shaft it].

It will be apparent that this provides for rocking or oscillating the roller supports 20 simultaneously and intermittently in parallel relation about their individual axes in accordance with the shape of the cam track 54 of cam 56, from which the gearsegment 46 receives its motion.

Adjacent the outer end of each of the cam drive shafts 10 are gears 58 and 60, meshing with broad-faced drive gears 62 and 64, respectively. The gear 58 is keyed to the cam drive shaft, while gear 60 is not, so that the gear 60 is free to rotate at a different speed from 58. The gears 62 and 84 are keyed to a main drive shaft 65, driven from any suitable motor.

The spindle drive shafts 8 are free to rotate in the quill or tubular cam drive shaft Ill, and at the extreme outer end'of each of the spindle drive shafts is a pinion 68, meshing with a gear segment 10, keyed to fulcrum pin 12, mounted in gear 68. The fulcrum pin i2 is free to turn in gear 60 and projects beyond the inner face of this gear. Integral with this pin or rigidly secured thereto is cam lever arm 14, carrying cam follower roller 18, riding in cam track 18, provided in gear 58.

As hereinabove set out, the two heads of the machine are identical in construction, except that they are in opposite hands, so that any action taking place in one head at any instant is simultaneously being duplicated in the opposite hand in the other head.

From the description thus far given, it will be appreciated that cam drive shaft Ill will be rotated through the medium of gears 62 and 58 to impart rotation to the cam 56. Rotation of this cam will effect rocking of the cam lever 48 by reason of the shape of the cam track 54, thereby to drive or rotate the roller supports 20 about their individual axes in parallel relation first in one direction and then in the other, the cam track 54 being so shaped that there is an appreciable dwell between reversals of the roller support movements.

As above pointed out, the ball-supporting rollers M are driven from drive shaft 8, which has been referred to as a roller spindle drive shaft. The function of the cam or rather the cam track 88 in the face of gear 58 and its associated elements is to cause the spindle drive shaft 8 and, hence, the spindles 22 and the ball-supporting rollers 14 to rotate about their individual axes in a constant direction during the periods the roller supports 26 are dwelling, the ball-supporting rollers l4 deviating from this common direction due to the action of the cam lever E i, whereby the ball-supporting roilers l4 become fixed in relation to the roller supports 20 during rotation of the roller supports in either direction in parallel relation about their individual axes.

Normally, the ball-supporting and driving rollers Hi turn in one common direction due to the differential movement of the gears 58 and 60. The only departure from this action is when the roller supports are rotated in parallel relation about their individual axes to alter or vary the setting of the rollers relatively to the head. Consequently, the track 28 is so shaped that, whenever the roller supports 29 are oscillated in either direction in parallel relation about their individual axes, the ball-supporting and driving rollers i4 rotate in fixed relation with the supaces ore ports, these rollers at? all othexrtimes rotating in a'constant'direetionz hr other words; means areprov-idedE-foreffecte ing= deviatiom from the normal rotation of; the hall supporting and driving rollers- I 4 to. cause themto move--integrally with; the roller supports ZlPwheneventhe rollr supports=are osoillatedin parallel relation" on-theii: indiyidiial axes in either direction.-

The -spindlea-dy of-each of theheads42 as: above pointed'out; is'support'ed' in atsupport-bearing 6% These spindles a-re non-rotatable:'but have movement longitudina'lly in theibearing$topermit the heads -Z' to -move apart as the ball, held between them; increasesirr-diameter: Accordingly; each spindle is provided witha keyway== or slbt flihand extending'into-this keyway or slot is a": set screw 82 providedwithdockmut 85% The set screw acts as -a key permitting the-head spindlesto :be moved longitudinally but preventing their rotation.

As has been previously pointed out; not only must provisi'onbe-ma'de to enable the-twmheads ofthe=machine to'tmoveaway from= each other automatically duringthe windingofthe ball as the-ball gradually -increases in-diameter, hut it becomes-= necessary to move-onehead and-its-associated mechanism; including bearing support 6'; away from the= other hea'd and associat'ed' mechanism; to permit the=-thread supply spools to oe replaced. Accordingly; the bearing support S at the -right=handend of Fig 1 ofthedrawii1gs has been shown mounted -in-a gu ide 85? whichds providedim the base=ofthemachine I and normally is held in fixed-positiondn this guide byscrews 88; This construction will be reierred-to again later on:

Each" head spindleis-eaui-pped W-ith'a yoke 90, and-ieachor theseyokes, which-ism the-form ofa bell' crank lever; is-provided='with-anarm- 92-; each of *these'armsat their'ireeends carrying meshing gear-segments.

To each-of the gearsegmentsdssecured a. link 96 and across-link 68; from=which-is suspended-a weight N30. The function of theweight'IUIPand associated-mechanism,- just described; is to hold the" caps I8 of the'-ball -supporting* and driving rollers 'l 4 agaihsttheball I -%'with theproper pres sure: Astheball increases in diametergitsimply forcesthetwo'headsapart? raising'the weight Hm.

It' is tobe'noted that, as'the -headsmove apart,

the-gears E and-fiil'move with" them; remaining in-mesh-withthe-gears 62 and-64$ however, which, as; shown; are broad facedigears for this' purpose;

As pointedout-at-theoutset ofp'this description; the machineofthis-invention difiers very materially" from machinesof" the type" shownin my prior Patent2;0765'65, in that thebal-l-supporting heads-2' arenon-rotatable; and in that thread guides; rotatable about the ball; are provided to wind the thread about theball The-threadsupplyspools as presently pointed" out are rotatable about thelongitudinalaxis 'of the machine; positively driven-thread guidee'being-provided which also--rotate-about=the lbngitudina1 axi's of themachine for taking the thread off tiie= spools: and guiding it to =and-carryingdt about the ball.

The=fixtures for mounting thethread spools=and the thread guidingimecliani'sm will nowbe described:

From an inspection of Fig: 1 of thedraw-ings; it will be seen-that I02 designates what maybe termed a drivingpulley; rotatable one anti -friction; bearings "14;. provided at each-bearing support: 6; Eachpulley: may-= hex driven" through a lclelt I06 1 orFpreferably 11W asichain other: one venientdrivefrom a suitablexirivingzmotomwhioh is=-preferablyvariable speed? The-motor hastheen omitted from. thehdrawingszfor clarity: Secured to the innerface ofthe'ipullew IDZi a spool? mounting-fixture "18s. This -fikturezi'sthollow sure round-sdhe headi 2, andfi'estepped aseshowmatal d 0 toaccommodate aipluralitylofithreadispoolss. fi'xture I 08' is ri'gidlyt securedtto'thapulleni fizsand. is=coaxial therewithx Disposcdi-aboutzthezfacesof thee spool mounting fixture are: a plurality? of rollers I U9} held-m place by steelfrings: H *1 The thread spools are designated! I l 2" and I114. 'Fh-ese -spoolS are-ay frictiomfitton' the-r steel rings I I I and' are-coaxial withthe-pulley I02; Imother words; the pulley: and spools: rotate about; the longitudinal airis of the -machine; the spoolsesur rounding the non-rotatable heads 2; Screwed into-the inner: end of eaolrspool fixture is a ring H 8*? This is a; retaining ring for: retainingrthe spoolsagainst endwise movement on the fi'xturez It-' will be" appreciatedthat other" arrangements may he providedlfor this purpose. 1

It will be seen, therefore, that I have provided for the positive rotation of the thread spool mounts-about the longitudinal axis of 'tlie=machine; and that the thread spools themselves are allowed free movement of rotation; provideeliby, rollers I89, to'unwindlthethread from the spools at asuitablerate to-maintaim the' propen back tension in thethread;

To guide threads from-the spools tothedoall; I provide two-thread guide arms at each head; rigid with the pulley I 02-, thetwo arms of eachpair being disposed diametrically opposite -each'other. Each of thesethread guides comprises an arm I20, extending radially relativelyto the 'spool mounts and thenforwardly; so* that their outer ends, that is, the ends remote from the spool mounts,- are roughl-y= in line-with the ball center being wound; One of" th'earms- I 20" isequipped with-two"pulleys I-22and I24 while the-other-is equipped with pulleys-'- I26" and- I28 Removablysecured tothe extreme outer" end of each-of the arms I 20*is an arm I29} extending radially of the spool mounts toward the ball. Each ofthe arms I 29 carries -apulley I39 The thread from" the spool I I -2'-'passes over th-e pulley i2 fiend therr is looped atleast-"oncealiout the brake or tension pulley I 28 at the extremity of I28 andfrom' thence' passes over' pulle5 ltil'to' the-ball I B; Thethreadfronrspool I-I"4 passes directly to-brake or-tension pulley l -24 and is looped at: least oncearound" this pulley and thenpasses around the corresponding pulley=- I 30 to-theball I 6-:

Pulleys I25 and" I28 are each provided witlr a brake; which has been designated I32 These brakes may take-any convenient: form and are provided for'the purpose of puttingslight pres sure onthe pulle s to res-ist tl ieir "turning freely, 'therebyto provide for tensionin'gof the thread as it is wound upon the ball I6.

As noted, thearms I 29 areeremovahl'y attached to'arms' I28, and inthis connection -it is to be noted are held m place-on-thearms" IZIP by set screw I3 5.- Thesearms I ware-made removable, so that; when changingthread spools, the arm's may be=remove d from=the arms-= Iiwand the spools slipped endwise' offtheir respective mounts;

As already explained; inthe-initial setting up of the machine the-heads will beheld by the weight IMP-in position; to maintaincaps=- Ic -of theball-supporting rollers Hi in contact with thesurface-of the ball being woundi and- -astlie ball increases in diameter, the heads 2 will be pushed apart automatically by the ball itself, carrying the gears 58 and 69 along with them. However, when it becomes necessary to replace a thread spool, not only must the heads 2 be separated a greater distance than is required to accommodate the ball itself, but the spool mounts and thread guides must be moved also. Upon reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that, to change the thread spools, it is merely necessary to loosen the screws 38 at the bottom of the bearing support at the right hand end of Fig. 1 and to remove the screw I38 in the yoke arm 93, this arm being made in two pieces so that, when the screw I38 is removed, the upper part of the arm is free to be moved to the right. The drive shaft 66 has a long keyway I48, so that the entire mechanism to the right of the ball I6, as viewed in Fig. 1, may be moved a suflicient distance away from the other half of the machine to permit the removal of arms I25 and retaining rings H8, so that the spools on either or both heads may be slipped ofi their respective mounts and replaced with full spools.

Reverting to the thread guides, it is to be understood that each half of the machine is equipped with a pair of these guides, as already explained, the guides at one side of the machine being set diametrically opposite each other, the guides in the other half of the machine being set diametrically opposite each other but rotated 90 from the position of the guides on the first half of the machine. This makes for a balanced machine and eliminates vibration. This is important inasmuch as the thread guides are rotated at very high speed when the machine is in operation, and, by reducing or eliminating vibration, wear on the machine is reduced to a minimum.

From all of the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a machine for the winding of balls wherein the ball, as it is being woundgis held between opposed sets of capped rollers, which are in contact with the surface of the ball. These rollers are driven rollers and, as above explained, each roller is mounted in a support which is given an intermittent rotative or oscillatory movement, these supports being rotated or oscillated about their individual axes in parallel relation first in one direction and then in the other with an appreciable dwell between reversals as determined by the cam '54. It will be understood also that the cam mechanisms at the outer ends of the .machine are so arranged that the ball-supporting and driving rollers I4 are rotated about their individual axes in a constant direction during the periods the roller supports are dwelling, the rollers deviating from this common or constant direction, whereby the rollers become fixed in relation to the roller supports 20, during rotation of the roller supports in either direction in parallel relation about their individual axes.

It will be understood also that by varying the speed ratio between the shaft 68 and the pulleys I02 the winding pattern on the ball may be varied. This permits the application of open windings upon the relatively soft ball center or core for the purpose of conveniently distributing the least number of windings to cover the core. This is at the start of the winding operation and promotes holding the center in the form of a true sphere. When a substantial thickness of these widely spaced tensioned windings have been applied to the ball core, so that distorting of the core is no longer likely, then the windings may be spaced closer together, thereby adding to the density and hardness of the ball. Near the completion of the winding operation, the spacing between windings may be again widened, so as to assure good bonding to the cover which is applied to the finished ball. It will be understood that the different spacings between the windings, that is to say, the variations just referred to, are readily accomplished by, for example, maintaining a constant cycle speed with respect to gears 58, G0, 62, and 64 while varying the speed of the guide arms I20 by varying the speed of the belts or chains IBIS, which drive the guide arms. If this speed is increased, this, of course, will produce close windings. 0n the other hand, relatively slow speed of the thread guides will produce open windings. The ability to vary the relative speeds of the thread guide arms and the cycle speed of the rest of the machine has another advantage in that it enables the machine to be adjusted readily to wind difierent types and cross-sections of thread or tape. I might add, as already indicated, that vibration in my machine has been reduced to a minimum in that, except for the fast rotation of the thread spools and their guides, all movements of the machine are relatively slow. As a result of this construction and because of the fact that the guide arms are balanced, not only is excessive vibration avoided, as already mentioned, but the machine may be operated at very high speed, so that its capacity is very high, without imposing severe strain and vibration on the heads, the differential gearing and associated mechanisms.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in this art, identical results are obtained, so far as winding pattern is concerned, by varying the speed of the motor which drives the main drive shaft 66 or by varying the speed of the motor which drives the belts Iiiii and, hence, the guide arms, or by maintaining constant speed of the thread guide arms and altering the speed of the roller supports and rollers.

In this connection I have shown an arrangement at the right-hand side of Fig. 1 for effecting these variations in speed automatically. This arrangement merely comprises a plurality of fixed contacts I50, I5I, and I52, mounted, for example, to the fixed bearing support 6. Cooperating with these contacts is a movable contact I5 3, mounted on the head spindle 4. These contacts are connected in well known fashion to an electric motor, which may be driving either the drive shaft lid or the pulleys I02. Initially the movable contact I54 will be in engagement with fixed contact I50 for slow speed of the driving motor, thereby to produce an open weave initially upon the ball core. As the ball increases in diameter and spindles 4 move outwardly, fixed contact I5! will be engaged to increase the speed of the driving motor to produce a closed weave, and when the ball diameter has further increased to a predetermined amount, fixed contact I52 will be engaged again to slow down the motor and produce an open weave.

It will be appreciated that this speed control construction is merely illustrative inasmuch as, obviously, other well known constructions may be used with equal facility. It is to be understood that the spacing and number of fixed contacts may be varied as desired, to vary the number of wraps applied in each pattern and to vary the number of times the winding pattern may be altered and the extent to which it is altered on :9 each change and that additional ieontaots :may be used to stop both motors and :terminate @the minding'nperation.

:In .:I have illustrated an arrangement \ud'iereby the-speed ratio -between shaft -56, which may be running :at ioonstantlspee'd, and the belts xmlipwhich drive the 513111185 5 tfiz,may meadily be varied. fi his arrangement-comprises itwo pairs of pulleys 4153 and IE2, -connected by belt 164. .llhe pulleys 4.8.9 tare sslidably mounted -.on :shaft zlififi, 'which ;carries pulleys lat-8 for driving the ipulleys #02 ;through the =helts H15. iIhe pulleys 4:92 are =slidably mounted on the shaft 65.

.Sliding of the pulleys .468 Land 462 simul .taneously .on their respective shafts is -efiected .through levers Hi1 (and -xl'b2, :iulcrumedrat AM, tthese :levers I-being pivoted ithrongh toggle -.meeh anism H6. The rod H8 is the actuating :member :ior the itoggle, and, by :adjusting this zrod manually, the ;pulleys infill may zbe separated \while the z-pulleys i 6:2 "are "being pushed (together, roralice versa. Each pair 10f ,pulleys forms a so that varying the setting of these pulleys --will wary [the ispeed of shafit +56 with-respeefito shait 4E6, thereby to -.vary :therspeed ratio between belts 106 tandshafit v66 -Itzis to be iunderstoodifurthermorethatzchanges may :he lmade Pin the details .of =construction and arrangement of parts :hereinabove described iwithin'thegpnryiewof my invention.

*Wlratdwlaimds 51. in .a ball-Windingimachine, the-.combination zofi-amairrofaopposed non-lrotatable heads; ar-Supapontingspindle impeach head said-spindleabeing sin eaxial valignment hallesupporting and driving irollers oarriedihyisaidheads; :antoscillatable support for each -rolier; vmeans iforarotating said .rollersabout'rtheirindividualzaxes, and means: for intermittently!osoillating:said nollerssupporits, (for rotating -.the =ball successively on :a --plurality of (axes; .-a fixed thread spooLmount. for supporting .2. 'spool aevenly :distributed thread at all ttimes cennnentric with :the ilongitudinal axes of ithe tsaid spindles-(and.- in fixed trelationrto rtheeenter of -the hall beingwwoundxa threadiguiderrotatableiabout ithezsaidilongitudinahaxesforguidingithread from :the supply :spcol -to :ami about the ball; and mounts for the :heads permitting the heads to tseparate -.independently of the spool mount and .thread, guide, to roompensate ior !the;gradnal .in- :orease in *the ball adiameter, said lthread nspool *mount: and .threadguide being.- movable asasunit with one :of the-heads :to ,permit =of their .nnitary movement'a-wayrirom the other head-:,a sufficient 'xiistance to permit ,Of the replacement .of ,the thread spool.

42. Infia ball-windingtmachine, theicombination of :a ,pair -.of xnonarotatalole Winding heads; a mounting spindle for eaoh head, said spindles beinginaxialzalignment ball-driving rdllers'carzriedlby saidlheads; means "for normallymotating said rollers 'in a common direction about individual .axes; supports "for said'rollers carried by said heads cam-controlled means for interniittently effecting "rotation of said supports simultaneously "first in'vone direction "and then in theopposite direction" iniparallel relation on-their individualaxes cam-controlled means" for interrupting the *normail rotation of the rollers in time d rlation 'to rotationof the roller :supports, whereby the rollers rc-tate integral'lyiwithitheisnpports duringzrotationroi rthezsupports Ctorotate the ball successively about ddifierent iEXfiS; :meanszfor 1a ithread supply spool :of evenly disill) 16 Ltudinal iaxes-ofssaid spindles and :a thread, guide rotatable about "the said axes for xtakingathread irom :thersuppl-y spool -.and=oarrying .it under tension about the ball during the said rotation'ofwthe ball.

3. In ,a ball-minding machine, the -.combination of i a ,pair of opposed man-rotatable winding heads; a :mounting spindle for each head, .said spindles beinglin axial alignment; ball-Supportzing and driving .-rollers carried rby .said heads; means for normally irotating =said. rollers in1con- .stant ,rolling a contact with the ball :in a constant :direction iabout vindividual axes langularly Edisposed. with respect to the axis of the machine; supports for .said rollers carried -by said heads; nam actuated means :intermittently effecting l.0- .tation of said supports simultaneously, first in tone direction and then 1in.-the:.op-p0sitedirection, .inmaraliel relation on their individual taxes; "cam-actuated :means eflecting deviation of ithe rollers zirom their .normal rotation in :timed relation -to1rotation .of the-rollersuDpOrtswhereby the [rollers and supports rotate integrally, atherebytto effect-rotation of the ball aboutdifier- ,ent (axes; a thread rsupply spool 0f evenly 1distributedithread mountedmo rotatetabout th -axes .of;-.-said spindles; ands-aithread guide" mountedifor rotation about the ,said' axes for .-.guiding thread from the :spool and :oarrying it about the ball duringsaidrotation of-the-lball.

-41. :In a hall-winding :machine, the (combination -.of monerotatable opposed lheads; rbflll-rdliV- ling .andrsupporting rollers carried by said :heads; means vfor -normally rotating said rrollers ,in .a common direction about individual axes angu- Jarly z'disposed with respect to the :axes of the heads; supports "for tthe rollers carried *by said .heads; -.cam-;contr0l1ed means :for effecting rro- -'.tation of said supports simultaneously, first Lin one directioneand-then in the oppositezdirection,

dmparallehrelation onwtheir individualaxes ;-cam

ontrolledmeans {for interrupting the rnormakrostation of 'the rollers -in timed relation to rotation rof tthe' roller :supports @whereby the rollers :rotate :integrally :With 'the supports :during :rotation (of tthe supports :a thread :supply spool :whose axis is aligned with :the axis 20f the :heads; and .a thread rgllide rotatable about .the -:.center dine of the heads for :carrying 'sthread rfrom the [spool za'boutzthe :hall :during'the movement: impartedwto ntheiballrtbyith (said rollers and roller supports.

5. =In a ball-winding -.machine, :the -3c0mbinaitionrofa pair of QlQDosed tubular threadspool amounting fixtures; -.opposed non-rotatable lheads extending into :said fixtures; ball-supporting rrollers harried by .each head, .said heads .being movable axially relatively .to said fixture; a thread ,.guide.carried.hy fleah fixture and rotatable .about the, said heads to noarry thread about a ball supported 'bysaid ro'llers;1a spindle for each .head; ,a driven shaft extending through each of said spindles for driving the "ba'llesupporting rollers; gearing for said shafts; and a mount "for one of "said fixtures, "the associated head, 'thread guide, and gearing whereby the same 'canbemoved'axially'of the machine away 'from 'the qpposed head'to permit of removal and replacement of the-thread'spool.

I '6. In a -ball-windingmachine,the'eombination are; non rotatable head ;'"a bearing support 'th'erefor; a rotatable :memb'er .mounted for :rotation on said hearing :support, ssaid i'head sheing movabledongitudinally :in said support relatively :to said rotatable rmember; ca :spoo1-=m,ounting fix- ;tributed :thread :for rrotation :about :the longim5 tureccarried bymaidwrotatable:memben said fix,-

11 ture surrounding said head; rollers on the face of said fixture; a ring surrounding said rollers; and a thread spool telescoping said ring with a friction fit.

'7. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a non-rotatable head; a bearing support therefor; a rotatable member mounted for rotation on said bearing support; a spool-mounting fixture carried by the rotatable member and surrounding said head; rollers on the face of said fixture; a ring surrounding the rollers; and a thread spool telescoping the ring, thereby to provide for slippage of the spools in their normal rotation.

8. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a non-rotatable head; a bearing support therefor; a rotatable member mounted for rotation on said bearing support about the center line of said head, said head being movable longitudinally in said support relatively to said rotatable member; a spool-mounting fixture carried by said rotatable member, said fixture surrounding the head; and a ring secured to the end of the spool-mounting fixture to overlap the end of a spool carried by the fixture to prevent unintentional removal of the spool from the fixture.

9. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a non-rotatable head; a bearing support therefor in which the head is movable longitudinally; a rotatable member carried by said support and fixed against bodily movement relatively thereto; a spool-supporting fixture surrounding said head and carried by said rotatable member; a thread guide carried by said fixture and comprising an arm lying outside a spool mounted upon said fixture and extending forwardly toward the plane of the inner end of the said head.

10. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a non-rotatable head; a bearing support therefor in which the head is movable longitudinally; a rotatable driving member carried by said bearing support and fixed against bodily movement relatively thereto; a spool-supporting fixture surrounding said head and carried by said rotatable member; a thread spool upon an axis common to said fixture; a guide arm carried by the fixture and lying wholly outside the spool, said arm extending forwardly beyond the plane of the inner end of said fixture; a thread-ten sioning roller carried on the inner end of said arm; a guide arm removably secured to the inner end of the first arm and depending therefrom; and a roller at the free end of the second arm whereby, as the guide arms are rotated about the center line of said head, thread will be guided to and wound around a ball at the forward or inner end of the head.

11. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of two opposed non-rotatable heads; driven ball-supporting and driving rollers carried by each head; bearing mounts for each head permitting the heads to recede from each other as ill spool on either fixture to be removed lengthwise from the fixture.

12. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a pair of opposed non-rotatable heads; ball-supporting and driving rollers carried by said heads and presenting spherical surfaces to a ball being wound; an oscillatable support for each roller; means for rotating said rollers about their individual axes and means for intermittently oscillating said roller supports, thereby to rotate the ball about difierent axes; a supply spool of winding thread; and mounting means for said supply spool for mounting the supply spool for rotation about an axis which at all times passes through the geometric center of the ball being wound, the axis of the spool coinciding with the said axes about which the spool rotates.

13. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a pair of opposed non-rotatable heads; ball-supporting and driving rollers carried by said heads and presenting spherical surfaces to a ball being wound; an oscillatable support for each roller; means for rotating said rollers about their individual axes and means for intermittently oscillating said roller supports, thereby to rotate the ball about different axes; a supply spool of winding thread; mounting means for said spool for mounting the spool for rotation about an axis which at all times passes through the geometric center of the ball being wound and coincides with the spool axis; and a thread guide, ofiset with respect to the supply spool and rotatable about the same axis as the supply spool for guiding the thread from the spool about the geometric center of the ball being wound during the said rotation of the ball.

1 In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a pair of opposed non-rotatable heads; ball-supporting and driving rollers mounted in each head and presenting spherical surfaces to a ball being wound; an oscillatable support for each roller; means for rotating said rollers about their individual axes and for intermittently oscillating said supports to rotate the ball successively about a plurality of axes; a thread supply spool; means for mounting the same for rotation about an axis which at all times passes through the geometric center of the ball being wound and coincides with the spool axis; a thread guide extending radially of the supply spool beyond the spool periphery; and means for rotating said guide about the axis of said spool to carry thread from the spool about the geometric center of the ball throughout the winding operation.

15. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a pair of opposed non-rotatable heads; a supporting spindle for each head, said spindles being in axial alignment; rotatable, hemispherical ball-driving and supporting rollers carried by said heads; an oscillatable support for each of said rollers; driving means for rotating each of said rollers about its individual axis; means for intermittently oscillating said roller supports to rotate the ball successively about a plurality of axes; a thread supply in fixed position relatively to said heads and the ball being wound; a thread guide; means for rotating the same about the longitudinal axes of said spindles for guiding thread from said fixed supply source and carrying it about the ball; and means for varying the said driving means for said rollers relatively to the speed of rotation of the thread guide, thereby to vary the spacing of the windings on the ball.

16. In a ball-winding machine, the combination of a pair of non-rotatable opposed heads; ball-supporting and driving rollers carried thereby, said rollers presenting spherical surfaces to a ball supported thereby; an oscillatable support for each of said rollers; means for rotating said rollers about their individual axes; and means for intermittently oscillating said roller supports to rotate the ball successively about a plurality of axes; a thread supply in fixed position relatively to said heads and to the ball being wound; a rotatable thread guide or flyer for guiding thread guide to vary the winding pattern produced on the ball being wound.

HIRAM N. HUSE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 647,256 Gammeter Apr. 10, 1900 820,608 Selzer May 15, 1906 2,456,944 Huse Dec. 21, 1948 

